Thursday, April 26, 2012

Would you hire a lawyer or doctor who advertised on TV or a
billboard?

Chances are you probably wouldn’t. Conventional wisdom suggests
that if they were that good, they wouldn’t need to promote themselves so
blatantly. Not to mention it comes across as slick and unprofessional.

So why does Wall Street continue to do just the opposite and
advertise everywhere? Because they’re selling a dream that many investors,
after the financial crisis, are having trouble believing.

Despite the profit squeeze on Wall Street, firms continue to
spend liberally to sell dreams – the dream of Wall Street’s superiority in financial
advice and their clubby access to the best investment opportunities.

Back To The Future

What’s a financial advisor to do if his or her firm is a
purveyor of grandiose dreams?

Many Wall Street advisors are adjusting their practice to protect
their clients from their firm – surreal as that may seem. In addition, advisors should also follow the
tried-and-true model of exceptional doctors and lawyers: Spend time developing
a practice with a reputation for personal excellence. The business will follow.

Doctors know there’s no substitute for a good bedside manner
and the competent application of medicine. Likewise, every world-class attorney
builds a business based on expert knowledge of the law and equally expert skill
in networking for clients.

Many financial advisors would do well to follow that model. One
reason the independent wealth management business is growing so rapidly – largely
without advertising – is that advisors provide independent advice and don’t need
to peddle “dreamy” products. Clients are
genuinely happy with them, and word-of-mouth referrals are resulting in a
steady source of new business, just like they do for doctors and lawyers.

The good news is that it’s never been easier or more cost
effective for advisors to let people know about their unique expertise. Social media provides a terrific communication platform that can reach a large
audience without a Super Bowl-like ad budget.

Better still, social media gives your clients the
opportunity to express their appreciation of your work so others can see.
Nothing is more powerful than client testimonials that go viral online.

Getting Back to the
Basics

The financial crisis and the heavy hand of Dodd-Frank are
prompting many Wall Street firms to revert to their original business model of being
a corporate advisor, not a product manufacturer. It’s also putting the focus back on clients
and what’s good for them.

That’s where we all need to return. Wealth advisors need to
get back to the business of having a real relationship with their clients based
on a foundation of realistic advice.

All would do better if the focus were on selling reality,
not a mirage with a snappy jingle.

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About Jeff and Keith

Jeff has over 25 years experience in wealth management as a family advisor and a national manager of the wealth management businesses at Montgomery Securities, Bank of America Private Bank, and Presidio Financial Partners LLC.

Keith has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 10 years as the chief operating officer for several hedge funds. He was the COO and founding partner of East Avenue Capital Partners, Neuberger Berman Technology Management and Bowman Capital Management.

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